Despite his reputation as an easygoing and likable actor, Robert Downey Jr. has had his share of Hollywood feuds. One of the most notable was his well-known clash with Hugh Grant. The trouble started after their collaboration on the 1995 film Restoration. Downey Jr. didn’t hold back, publicly calling Grant a “boring, flash-in-the-pan a**hole Brit,” according to the Daily Mail.
The feud took a turn on January 10, 2018, when Grant shared his side of the story in an interview with People. He recalled, “[Downey Jr.] hated me. He took one look at me and wanted to kill me,” though Grant admitted he didn’t understand why Downey Jr. felt that way.
However, this story has a positive twist. Just two days after Grant’s interview, Downey Jr. extended an olive branch on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “A lot has happened over two decades! I respect how Mr. Grant has matured as an artist & voice against violations of privacy. Let’s break bread together soon @HackedOffHugh! #burythehatchet2018.”
Grant accepted the offer using the same hashtag. Despite this reconciliation, Downey Jr. has faced other less amicable feuds in his career.
#1. Jimmy Kimmel has pushed Downey Jr.’s buttons on multiple occasions
Though not some famous feud, Jimmy Kimmel has commented a few eyebrow-raising comments about Robert Downey Jr., which seem quite personal in nature. For instance, during an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in June 2020, Kimmel asked Downey Jr. what he was wearing.
When Downey Jr. replied he had no idea and asked what Kimmel was wearing, Kimmel’s response was also very weird: “Later on, we’ll look, and you’ll go through my pants, and we’ll see what I’m wearing.” Downey Jr.’s body language showed he was uncomfortable and shocked by Kimmel’s comment.
“What’s this about you and I in your pants? Were you coming on to me? I just got here,” he said, very obviously upset. Kimmel wouldn’t even let Downey Jr’s recent award get in the way, noting in his show from March 2024, “Congratulations to Cillian’s co-star Robert Downey Jr. on his first Academy Award.
This is the pinnacle of [his] long and illustrious career. Well, one of the pinnacles,” all while sort of pointing at his nose. This seemed to be a joke regarding Downey Jr.’s very public struggles with drug abuse, where he was sent to jail back in the ’90s.
The quip has scored Downey Jr. a lot of flak online, with many netizens frowning on it as trivializing addiction, but the actor himself has yet to speak out against the jokes.
#2. Terrence Howard called out Robert Downey Jr. for betraying him
Terrence Howard’s feud with Robert Downey Jr. began during the production of the 2008 film Iron Man. Howard, who played War Machine alongside Downey Jr., was replaced in Iron Man 2, despite their on-screen chemistry.
Initially, Howard claimed in a March 2013 interview on Sway’s Universe that his departure was due to contractual disputes.
However, in an August 2013 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Howard accused Downey Jr. of influencing his recasting.
He referred to Downey Jr. as “the person that I helped become Iron Man” and suggested that Downey Jr. had a hand in pushing him out. Downey Jr. denied any role in the decision when he spoke to MTV News.
Recently, it appears that the tension has eased. Howard shared a photo with Downey Jr. on Instagram, writing, “Nice to see my old friend again… #lifestooshort #allgood.”
#3. Robert Downey Jr. nearly beat up an executive
In 2019, Robert Downey Jr. recounted a tense moment he had with a “Hollywood executive” while waiting to be interviewed on The Howard Stern Show.
Downey Jr., who holds a black belt in Wing Chun, was standing near a TV screen when the executive rudely told him, “Out of the way!”
When Downey Jr. tried to assert that he was in the right place, the executive snapped, “Who the f**k are you?” according to the Daily Mail.
This incident understandably angered Downey Jr., who briefly considered confronting the executive physically. However, he chose to rise above the situation, attributing the executive’s behavior to an inflated ego.
Downey Jr. noted that some high-profile figures in Hollywood expect immediate compliance with their demands. His decision to avoid physical confrontation, despite his fighting skills, highlights the self-control he has developed over the years.
#4. Robert Downey Jr. had a real-life Marvel feud
Robert Downey Jr. has also had his share of Marvel-related conflicts, some of which are surprisingly uplifting. In 2013, Deadline reported that Downey Jr., wielding considerable influence at Marvel, took the lead in advocating for better treatment and pay for his fellow actors.
While Downey Jr. earned $50 million, some of his co-stars reportedly made as little as $200,000. Given that The Avengers had grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it one of the most successful films ever, many felt their compensation was inadequate.
An insider praised Downey Jr., saying he was “the only guy with real power in this situation. And balls of steel, too,” and noted that he had made it clear he wouldn’t work for a studio that treated his colleagues poorly.
His determination led to positive changes, as the cast of Avengers: Age of Ultron saw increased salaries and some even received bonuses for subsequent Avengers films.
